Cognitive Insight: Alzheimer’s Disease
“A way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is to learn how to play an instrument.”
Alzheimer’s vs Dementia.
Before we begin with the discussion on Alzheimer’s, we need to address the elephant in the room: What is the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease? Dementia is a general diagnosis that describes the decline of cognitive ability, memory loss, personality, and behavior. In short, there a many different forms of Dementia and Alzheimer’s is one of them. It is also possible to have more than one type of Dementia affecting a person at once. Let’s take some time to shine some light on the other forms of Dementia.
Vascular Dementia: This type of Dementia is caused by low blood flow to the brain which is usually triggered by a stroke. The lack of blood flow to the brain causes cognitive decline and can be occurring in most Dementia types.
Dementia with Lewy bodies: “Lewy bodies’ are abnormal proteins present inside the brain that can cause plaque which can be an inhibitor to the production of neural pathways. This type of Dementia can go beyond just memory and cognitive decline, it can also cause hallucinations and movement problems. This condition can also be present in Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s patients.
Frontotemporal Dementia: This is a degenerative attack on the front and temporal parts of the brain and can lead to impulsive behavior, interpersonal changes and decline in lingual skills due to the specific attack to the brain that controls these areas.
Young-onset Dementia: These are Dementia symptoms occurring before the age of 65.
Mixed Dementia: This occurs when two forms of Dementia are present at once. This commonly presents itself through Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease.
This is the most common form of Dementia. In 2023, 6.7 million Americans were diagnosed with this disease altering the lives of not only the patients but loved ones/caregivers as well. Alzheimer’s is the degeneration of cognitive function through the continual losing of neurons (nerve cells) and the electrical connections they make with other nerve cells, this process is called synapses. Overtime, this deterioration causes the brain to shrink in size. It also diminishes chemical processing through neurotransmitters. This disease is a fully armed attack against the brain. The name derives from a joint effort from Emil Kraeplin and Alois Alzheimer because they identified and published the first case of “presenile Dementia”. From this point, Senile Dementia before the age of 65 became known as Alzheimer’s disease. Later studies revealed that this “pre-65” condition of Alzheimer’s disease was not limited to this age group and was the cause of Dementia cases after 65. This was confirmed through autopsies conducted on the brain. Alzheimer’s Dementia doesn’t only impair memory but also cognition, personality, language, normal recognition, behavior and cause hallucinations. You may have also noticed, these symptoms are a combination of the other Dementia types.
Normal aging vs. Alzheimer’s.
General memory loss is complex and has a spectrum. It is important to note that many professional practitioners distinguish between normal aging forgetfulness and early cognitive decline that can lead to Dementia (we will discuss this cognitive decline later). For example, an elderly person can have trouble remembering a name in the moment but then remember it later. In this case, this person didn’t forget altogether this memory. Instead, this person experienced a delay which in most cases can be seen as normal as people age. The distinguishing factor between normal aging and an Alzheimer’s (or other Dementias) precursor is a person’s personality, skills, normal functioning and behavior doesn’t alter with normal aging. If a loved one notices these traits changing, this is reason for alarm and to see a specialist. Here is a direct quote from Gad A Marshall, MD specifying how distinctions are made when properly diagnosing Alzheimer’s:
“Late life changes or a new onset of behavioral symptoms or neuropsychiatric symptoms is a concern, whereas if the behavioral pattern is present throughout most of life or in adulthood, it is less concerning. For example, depression present in the 20s and throughout is not as clear a marker for neurodegenerative disease as late-onset depression in the 60s or 70s. A change is generally more concerning as a potential prodrome or risk factor for a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, a lifelong pattern is not as predictive. I agree with Dr. Atri that even subjective complaints or concerns are important. We are noticing that self-reports of subjective decline usually predict objective decline for Alzheimer’s disease. When you test an individual with subjective cognitive concerns with a sensitive objective cognitive assessment, that individual may still score in the normal range, but not optimally. Over time, that person’s progressive decline becomes more easily detected on objective testing and noticed by others. Reduced processing speed often occurs as one ages. Most cognitive tests have age-based and education-based norms. For example, an episodic memory test is controlled for age, as some parts of cognition will decline with age. Unfortunately, some of those normal values included people with mild cognitive impairment (i.e., impaired but not demented). Neuropsychological testing on an individual, that indicates, “normal for age,” may need to be interpreted with a grain of salt. The million-dollar question: Is this normal aging? Or should they be worried? A big red flag for an individual is a new problem that is persistent, is progressive, and affects daily functioning, especially if that individual was independent recently.”
So, with this considered, the perceived spectrum regarding memory loss could begin with normal forgetfulness due to aging (if left unchecked or preventative measure in place). Then that could lead to mild cognitive decline, but in most cases, this is where the timeline begins for Alzheimer’s disease: Mild Cognitive Decline -> Early Dementia symptoms -> Early or Moderate (to severe) Alzheimer’s disease.
Mild Cognitive Impairment/Decline (MCI).
As stated prior, this is usually the beginning of Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and this stage can be a very slippery slope when considering progression to the disease. If you or a loved one has consistent memory decline but still able to do normal functions, you or your loved one may be in this portion of the timeline. Neuropsychological tests are used to confirm memory decline. If you noticed you or your loved one has trouble with language (communicating clearly and effectively) and problem solving, it is imperative to take this seriously as MCI can lead to Dementia. MCI becomes increasingly common with age and stressful situations that trigger anxiety.
Identifying the signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.
We’ve mentioned these symptoms briefly prior, let’s take some time to review these in depth.
Memory loss: This is the most identifiable symptom as it’s the most common characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Short-term memory is impaired in early Alzheimer’s cases and can affect work and social occasions because the ability to process new information is impaired. The memory a person once recalled, they can’t do so at this point.
Cognitive Decline: This is the inability to judge decisions and matters properly. This can often lead to car accidents or other accidents. Signs of this also shows in impairment in problem solving and activities a person once did well also declines or can’t be done at all.
Altered Mood and Personality: This is one of the symptoms used to distinguish normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s. This disease can cause a person to become withdrawn and no longer enjoy their favorite activities. This can also present itself through erratic moods, depression, appetite changes and a feeling of worthlessness. If depression is present, it is usually due to chemical changes in the brain and is not commonly coupled with suicidal thoughts.
Language Decline: The medical term used for this is Aphasia. This brain disorder affects how a person speaks and understands language. This can also be a symptom for Frontotemporal Dementia. In Alzheimer’s disease, a person may not be able to recall a specific word they want to use in conversation. Instead, they may ramble and try to describe it and they may also try to cover this up by substituting a word they want to use with a word that sounds like it.
Behavior Problems: This is another characteristic to differentiate from normal aging. A person may become extremely stubborn and reject care. They may also use abusive and foul language as well as engage in unsafe and outlandish activities. A person may get lost in their own neighborhood, pace back and forth and eat inedible objects.
(Please note that these are not all the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s just what we have chosen to cover)
Holistic Prevention.
There can be light at the end of this dark tunnel, but it begins with prevention before the symptoms of this disease occur. While medical professionals agree there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s but there are holistic practices that can be implemented in the MCI stage and, preferably, during normal aging forgetfulness. There has been no newly created pharmaceutical drug since 2003, and this is also recommended to be taken during early stages. Due to this, a holistic approach towards prevention and reducing symptoms (possible during the mid to moderate stage) is heavily supported. Let’s take some time to discuss these.
Exercise: So simple, yet so effective. Exercise aids in promoting good blood flow to the brain and is imperative when trying to prevent Alzheimer’s or any other form of Dementia. Incorporating aerobic based exercises such as running, walking, swimming and aerobic focused classes are great at promoting blood flow. Intentional body movement is also great and it’s important a person does what they enjoy so it creates a lifestyle habit. Even if exercise needs to be modified based on mobility, it’s still effective. Studies have shown that people who participate in some form of exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day, were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s in their later years compared to someone who didn’t.
Earth grown support: These are some foods plants that aid in Alzheimer’s prevention and symptom reduction:
Saffron: Yes, you read that correctly, this spice that is mostly used for Paella and Saffron rice has added cognitive impairment reduction to its list of capabilities. A study using Saffrotin (a higher concentration of absorbable Saffron) showed this spiced mimicked the effects of Donepezil which is a drug used to treat mid to moderate Alzheimer’s patients. It is believed Saffron works by inhibiting the formation of beta-amyloid plaques (in short this is an overload of proteins in the brain that cause aggregation and blockage of neurons) and this is accomplished by its active ingredient called crocin.
Lione’s Mane: No, it’s not just a delicious substitute for plant-based steaks. Lione’s mane also has the benefit of improving cognitive qualities. It supports nerve growth in the brain, reduces astrocyte activation (which is the same destruction to the brain that occurs after someone has a stroke) and reduces anxiety and depression, which can, in this discussion, be a direct cause of Alzheimer’s. This is a condensed list of the benefits of Lione’s Mane to the brain and many people use it for mood support as well. Lione’s Mane can also be extracted and administered in a potent way that breaks the blood brain barrier for maximum absorption to be achieved. This plant (technically fungus) can be consumed in a tincture (liquid) or powder and taken with tea.
Blueberries: Berries in general are powerful, but we are going to focus on the blueberry. Blueberries contain anthocyanins which are potent concentration of micronutrients and antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, and this type of stress is a direct link to memory loss. A study was conducted on middle age at risk adults (they were prediabetic and had metabolic disfunction) and they were given a berry powder that was equivalent to a half a cup of blueberries each day for 12 weeks. These people participated in tests that measured memory, self-control and mental flexibility (these begin to decline in normal aging and early Dementia). The people given blueberries showed better focus when loaded with new information and better memory retention of the information. The continual consumption of blueberries has been proven to aid in reducing cognitive decline.
Other forms of Prevention
Food Consumption: What we eat and absorb becomes our being, so it’s no surprise that diet is a crucial factor in preventing Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia. Implementing a conscious, intentional and balanced lifestyle makes a powerful impact on our overall wellbeing. Studies have shown that “eating the rainbow”, The MIND diet (Mediterranean and DASH diet) and Keto diet have slowed down aging in the brain by 7.5 years (Alzheimer’s). It is vital to the brain’s health to also consume foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids which can be called brain food and are found in some foods like walnuts, chia seeds and clean cold water fatty fish, like salmon. Foods that are high in antioxidants, like all berries, can reduce oxidative stress (which is an environment where disease flourishes). Knowing what foods to avoid is just as important as knowing what foods to consume. If you desire to prevent disease like Alzheimer’s, after reading this portion take some time to reevaluate your current consumption and assess if you are feeding disease or preventing it. Inflammatory foods must be drastically reduced or avoided altogether. These types of foods are white and enriched processed breads, pasta, rice and processed sugar. It’s crucial to avoid high sodium (salt) foods like deli meat, bacon and other processed foods especially if it contains MSG. Also reducing or limiting alcohol consumption has been shown to maintain brain health and reduce its aging.
Social Consumption: Another very simple preventative tool yet impactful on brain health. Social interactions with friends, family and meeting new people have been shown to improve the quality of life in Alzheimer’s patients. Regarding preventing this disease, having a conversation involves the usage of precise language, memory recall and active listening and these are all great exercises for the brain. Social interactions can also create the opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby to challenge the brain. This is a large part of the human experience: relationships with other people and to deprive ourselves of that makes us more at risk to developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia. People who are often alone may have or begin bad habits like drinking alcohol in excess, eating unhealthy foods, smoking and are more susceptible to depression and anxiety.
Challenging the brain: This prevention coincides with being involved in social interactions and can be a great balance to it (the healthy alone time). When we participate in learning a new skill or hobby, it challenges the brain in a positive way. Some positive challenges to the brain include learning how to play an instrument, playing crosswords or other puzzles, learning how to play chess and reading. When we engage in these activities or any other new skill, it creates new neural pathways in our brain. This generates communication between our nerve cells and is something that is deteriorating or destroyed in Alzheimer’s depending on the stage of the disease.
conclusion.
We have covered a lot in this session, and yet there are more topics to learn regarding Alzheimer’s disease that we did not cover, such as the stages of the disease itself and learning how to care for someone who has Alzheimer’s. We encourage you to use this as a starting point to either do more research or allow yourself to become aware of this complex disease and the steps you can take to prevent it. We have included our citations below to aid in increasing your learning.
citations.
Sievert, Diane. “Alzheimer’s vs Dementia - What’s the Difference?” UCLA Med School, 5 July 2023, medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/alzheimers-vs-dementia-what-is-the-difference.
Alzheimer's Society. “Young-Onset Dementia | Alzheimer’s Society.” Www.alzheimers.org.uk, 17 Dec. 2021, www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/young-onset-dementia.
Dementia UK. “What Is Young Onset Dementia?” Dementia UK, Mar. 2022, www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/young-onset-dementia/what-is-young-onset-dementia/.
“What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Questions and Answers | Texas DSHS.” Www.dshs.texas.gov, www.dshs.texas.gov/alzheimers-disease/about-alzheimers-disease/what-is-alzheimers-disease.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Alois Alzheimer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alois_Alzheimer.
Patience and Patients: Understanding the Spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2012.
“The Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum.” Https://Evolvemeded.com/, 1 Sept. 2017, evolvemeded.com/specialty/neurology/the-alzheimers-disease-spectrum/27239/. Accessed 1 May 2025.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. “Aphasia.” NIDCD, 2017, www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/aphasia.
“Alzheimer’s Natural Treatment: Herbal & Alternative Treatments.” Neuraleffects.com, 2020, neuraleffects.com/blog/alzheimers-natural-treatment-herbal-and-alternative/.
Rasi Marzabadi, Leila, et al. “Saffron Reduces Some Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Markers in Donepezil-Treated Mild-To-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Control Trial.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 34, July 2022, p. 100574, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100574. Accessed 1 Aug. 2022.
Murphy, M. Paul, and Harry LeVine. “Alzheimer’s Disease and the Amyloid-β Peptide.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, vol. 19, no. 1, 6 Jan. 2010, pp. 311–323, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2813509/, https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-2010-1221.
Rodriguez, Mya N., and Stephen L. P. Lippi. “Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) Exerts Anxiolytic Effects in the RTg4510 Tau Mouse Model.” Behavioral Sciences, vol. 12, no. 7, 15 July 2022, p. 235, https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12070235. Accessed 30 Sept. 2022.
Kang, Wenfei, et al. “Astrocyte Activation Is Suppressed in Both Normal and Injured Brain by FGF Signaling.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 111, no. 29, 22 July 2014, pp. E2987–E2995, www.pnas.org/content/111/29/E2987, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1320401111.
Hunter-Lewis, Sophie. “What Does Lions Mane Do for Your Body and How Does It Work? | Grape Tree.” Grapetree.co.uk, Grape Tree online, 12 July 2024, www.grapetree.co.uk/blog/what-does-lions-mane-do-for-your-body-and-how-does-it-work. Accessed 6 May 2025.
Tedeschi, Tim. “Regular Blueberry Consumption May Reduce Risk of Dementia, Study Finds.” UC News, 10 May 2022, www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/05/blueberries-may-lower-chances-of-dementia-research-finds.html.
